Electric-switch construction



B. E. GETCHELL ELECTRIC SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 18, 1922 2 SheetsT-Sheet 1 INVENTOR B. E. Ge @A ell,

Apri 21, 1925.

April 21, 1925.

B. E. GETCHELL ELECTRIC SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 1B, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTI? B.E. Get zell,

-PatentedApn 11.925.

UNITED srpgrlazsA PATENT-OFFICE.

BENJAMIN' E. GETCHELL,OF`PLAINVILLE. CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR-TOTHE TRUM- BULL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, O'F PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, A.

coRroRATIoN or coirNE'rIcUT.

ELECTRIC-SWITCH CONSTRUCTION.

Application mea september 18, 1922. serial No. 58u54.

To all whomtt may concern.'y

Beit knownthat LBENJAMIN (infron- ELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates of Amer- Myv invention relates to what. are usually called safety switches in which the switchl elements -are enclosed in a receptacle or box and an external handle is provided for operating the switch. 1. y

The main object of my present invention is to provide a simple but inexpensive construction which is reliable. Another object is to provide a construction in which the switch parts are readily accessible when the box is open. Another object is to provide a construction which` has few parts and is therefore not likely to get out of order. Another object is to provide a simple but effec- "tive method of. constructing and mounting the handle and operating mechanism in such a manner that these parts co-act to provide an interlocking construction whereby the switch must first be thrown to off position before the cover' can be opened and whereby, when the cover is opened, the handle is entirely 'disengaged from operative relation with the switch and the switch cannot be operated until the cover is again closed to' .operatively engage the handle with the switch. A

In the preferred form of my invention- I mount the fswitch Contact and a movable switch member on an insulating base in the body of the boxor receptacle and the handle and operating mechanism are mounted -on the cover so as to provide a means of connection between the handle and the movable member of the switch when the box is closed but so as to entirely disconnect .the handle from the switchwhen the box is open.

Fig. 1 is a face view of a' switch embody-A ing the improvements of my invention show- A,

- side of the cover.

' ingthe principal interior parts dotted. Y.

Fi 2 is a side `,View of the construction showing the quick break .mechanism in dotted outline. y

. Fig. 3 is an end yiew of the construction,

i r f Fig. 4 is a -sidev view and partial'sectionv with the-cover removed.

Fig.5 is .a longitudinal Sectional viewon nected to rotate with ,the handle.

' a larger scale showing the handle mounting and quick breakmechanism.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vie'wshowing the quick break 4mechanism looking from the left of Fig. .5, the parts being in the open -circuit positidn.

Fig. 7 is a similar' view-showingv the parts in the closed circuit position in which they are interlocked so as to prevent opening of the cover. t V

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing details of the handle mounting and quick break mechanism.

The insulating base 10 in the form of construction shown carries stationary jaws 11.

and 12. Between these are mounted movable contact blades 18 which are carried by anh insulating cylinder 14. This cylinder is provided withhubs or shafts lupivoted in side ingly hold the cylinder in place. f The cylinv der is also provided with a projecting pin 19vadapted to oscillate in a slot 20 in one f the brackets.

The receptacleior box consists of a body portion'21' anda cover 22 which are connected by a hinge member 23. The spring catch 24 may be provided to hold the cover in itsv closed position. One side 25 of thel box is preferably cut lower than` the ends and the opposite side, and thercover is pro-v vide-d witha de ep overlapping portion 26 so that when-thev cover is open the switch mechanism is lmore. completely exposed and the handle is disconnected from the switch. This cover extension 26 carries the handle 27 and the quickdbreakmechanism of the switch. The member 2 8 on the inside of the box constitutes an interlocking memberl in connection with the pin 19. Inside of this member 28 is a cam-like member 29 connected to the handle member 27.

The washer 30 is con- The handle is mounted to oscillate' in the Proj ecloc l.

tions 31 may interlock with the washer '30:- .I The washer 32 on the inside of .the cover is j similar to 30 and ,is spaced apart from it -by a washer 33fwhich fits in an opening in the side ofthe cover to form a. bearing' for the handle.

gether preferably by rivets 35 which pass through the cam 29, the spacers 36 and 37 and the washers 32, 33 and 80, the heads of the rivets preferably being seated in the recesses 38 in\the handle member. The handle member may be removably held in place by a screw 39 and a spring washer 40 or it may be permanently secured by means of rivets. The member 28 is provided with a.` lug 41 adapted to co-act with lshoulders 42 in the cam member 29 when the cam member is ro'- tated by means of the handle.

J The operating member 28 is provided with two shoulders 43 and 44 adapted to engage the projecting member 19 of the switch blade carrier cylinder. The rod 45 is pivoted at one end to the member 28 and guided at the other end by a claw-like forked member 46 which is secured to the cover. Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, -it will be seen that the slotted claw-dike abutmentA 46 makes is possible to readily secure the rod 45 and the spring 46 in operative position as 'well as to easily and quickly removeor replace at t 'L It l1s obvious thatthis switch operating spring should this be necessary.

For convenience in manufacture the rod 45 may be formed of two pieces of sheet metal. The spring 47' surrounds a part of headof the rod adjacent the member 28 and the guide 46. The shoulder 4'8 of the member 28engages the slpring in the open circuit position shown 'inv ig. 6 so as to limit the throw yin that direction and the shoulder 49 serves as Aan abutment against the spring in the closed circuit position in- Fig. 7.

With the parts in the position shown in Figs. 1 to'6 the cover may be yopened (the latch 24 if present being released). To close the switch when the cover is closed the handle is moved clockwise as viewed -in Fig. 2 or anti-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 6 until the 4cam member 29 picks up @e projection 41 and thus rotates the member 28 and compresses the spring 47. y About the same time tha-t the spring 47 reaches a maximum compression the shoulder 43 picks up the pin 19 so that when the spring snaps the member 28 over to the posit10n shownin 'Fig'. 7` it carries with it the pin 19 and the cylinder 14 with the switch blades 13 closing the switch with a snap action. In the closed circuit position the pin 19 is directly over the memer 28 which, ofcourse, is carried by the cover so that the cover cannot be opened with the switch in the closed circuit position.

Ilo open thevswitch the handle is moved inthe reverse direction i. e. so as to move the parts from the position shown in Fig. 7 to the position shown in Fig. 6. In doing so the cam member 29 picks up the projection 41, rotates the member 28 to compress ythe spring 47 and the shoulder 44 engages the rpin 19 at about the time the, spring is con1` rotation of the member 28 carries the rod 45 to the other side ofthe center line and the spring suddenly snaps the switclrto the open circuit position whereupon thecover may be opened if desired.

Referring particulaglyLto Fig. 8, it will be seen` that the quickemake and quick-break mechanism constitutes ractically a unit in itself. `This unit is ma e up almost entirely of st'ampings and hat Washers several Aof which are duplicates.

lWashers and stampings of this character completely obviate variation and 4may be readily and accurately assembled as a unit by -means of thfe simplest mechanical operations and at a minimum cost. Further, this construction allows'as many spacing washers as maybe desired to meet mechanical conditions in different sizesfor styles'of switches.

Although the handle member 27 is shown provided with a separate lmob handle, it maya single piece of sheet means, including the spring,47, the rod 45 and the forked bracket 46 may be mounted asa complete unit on a suitable separate the, 1tod'45 and is compressed between thev plate or bracket which may be secured to the 30V side of a switch boX.4 Itmay be set up alongside of\a switch if so desired or the sepa rate plate may be omitted and the operating mechanism may be secured directly to the side of an enclosing box:l as shown. A

As shown in the drawings', the operating plate 28 is cut out at one lside'for co-operation with the projecting pin 19 carried by the switch blade cylinder 14. It is obvious that other forms of lost motion connection may beniade between these parts and that the plate may be readily arranged for a lost motion connection with. various types of switches, forinstance, it would be a simple mechanical matter -to connect this plate 28 lwith the blades of a common knife switch.

I claim: 1. Anenclosed switch construction comprising box members, a .switch mounted'` jacent said bearing Washer, a lost-motion washer,'an operating plate mounted on said lost-motion washer and having operableconnection therewith, a cover washer larger 1n' diameter than said lost-motion washer.

and lrivets passing through all of saith 66 pressed to its maximum degree. Further rating member carried by said side, a lost motion connection between said handle and ing ot' the cover whenthe switch is closed( 3. An enclosed" switch comprising a box body, a'switch mounted therein including 10 side brackets, a cylinder with switch contacts carried thereby, a pin projecting from said cylinder through one of said brackets, -a cover for said box, quickbi'eak operating mechanism carried by said covei including an operating member adapted to engage said projection to open the switch, said projection being adap'tedto engage said operating member to hold the cover closed 'when the switch is closed.

' 4. An enclosed Switch construction comin, a cover, a handle and quick break mechunism carried ,thereby including av switch operating spring and a. support for said l5 spring, the said spring and said support serving as a stop for the mechanism in th'e open circuit and closed circuitpositions.

5. An enclosed switch construction comprising a box body, -a switch mounted therein, 4a cover, switch .operating mechanism ofV saidbrackets having a slot, a switch member.

carri-ed by the cover including a handle, an'- operating plate, a 10st motion connection between the handle and said plate and a spring pressed member serving as a stop for said plate. v

6. An enclosed switch comprising a.box having a cover and body, la switclr mounted therein consisting of a base, stationary- A switch .contacts carried ,thereby, brackets j secured to opposite sides of said base, one

member pivoted in said brackets independently of said box and'li'avinga pin projecting through said slot and an operating.

handle and quick brea mechanism carried by one part of. said box and adapted to co- .fact with'said pin to operate said switch 7, In* an enclosed switch construction, a box member having an opening, a bearing member mounted 1n said openmg, 'a washer 4on each side ofsaid bearingl member, an

operating plate, a lost-motion member havingoperable connection with said plate,d

andrivets passing through said lost-motion member and said washers parts together.

8; In an enclosedswitch construction a box memberhaving an opening, a bearingA n'iember mounted inlsaid opening, washers on opposite sides of said bearing member,

rivets rpassing through said .washers'hol'dthem together and a-switch operating member having positioning recesses for the'.`

' operating plate having a lost-motionA cpm headsv ofv saidy rivets.

for holding said and quick-break construction including a 9. I ii an enclosed switch construction a box member, a handle, an operating memberhaving a lost motion connection' with said handle, a slotted claw-like abutment secured to said'box member, a springI pressed rod connected to said operating member and removably guided 1n said' abutment and serving as a stop for said plate.

Ia cover for said switch box, switehvoperating means carried by said cover includ-ing a shouldered operating plate adapted to engage withv the projection carried by they insulating member to hold thecover closed whethe switch is closed. prising a box body, a switchmounted therell. In yan electric switch, an enclosing box, a switch in said box including a pivoted v shouldered operating plate when switchv is I closed to prevent the opening of the lcover and the switch operating means being adapted to rotate the said projection to free the cover when the switch is moved to ofi' position. i

' 12. In an electric switch, a quick-make and` quick-break construction including 'a support, a bearing opening in said support,

a peripheral bearing washer m said opening, a side-bearing washer at each of the opposite sidesof said support, a 'switch operf ating handle, a switch operating plate having an opening, a journal. washer in said opening" having a lost/emotion connection :with said operfting plate, a side supporting washer .for sai operating plate, mean'sfor securing said washers, switch handle fand Voperating plate together, a spring pressed armpivoted atv oner end to said operating plate and supported at the other end by stationary means and means for a lost motionconnection between said operating plate and the blades'ot van electricv switch.

'13. In an electric switch, a quick-make support, a switch operating handle having switch operating plate. at'the oppositeg-,side

a bearing in saidsupport, `a two position J- 125 of saidsupport and having an openn coaxial with .said handlel support, a. bearing washer in 1- the `opening-'an 1 therewith, said ..bearing washer and said in the plane l nection, spring means for forcing said operating plate into its alternative positions l ofi-est and Washers for spacing the said operating plate away from said support,

6 the said operating plate having a lostniotion connectionwith an electric switch.v

14. In an electric switch, a `quick-make and quick-*break construction including a support, a switch... operating handle jour- 10 nalledin said support, bearing washers and spacing Washers co-axial With said handle bearing and securedv together with said handle, a tivo-position switch operating plate co-axial with said handle bearing hav- 15 ing a lost motion connection with vone of said'washers and a lost motion connection with an electric switch and spring means for forcing said switch operating late into its alternative positions, the sai bearing Washers, spacing Washers and switch operating plate being constructed from sheet metal stampinv's.

y15. InV an el handle, a bearing Washer, a spacing Washer,

1a lost-motion'washer,'a sheet metal operating plate mounted on said lost-nrotion Washer, an end Washer, and securing means passingthrough all of saidrv 'Washers and said vhandle for securing them together.

BENJAMIN E. GETCHELL.

handle,i

ectric switch, a sheet metal. 

